Huberman Labs: Dr. Means Discusses Urolithin A Benefits

Dr. Casey Means is a Stanford-trained physician, one of the foremost experts in metabolic health, and a #1 New York Times Bestselling author of the book Good Energy. Dr. Means recently appeared on the widely respected Huberman Lab podcast to discuss the critical role of mitochondrial function in overall wellness and longevity. Her insights are highly valued in the health and wellness community, making her endorsement of Urolithin A quite significant.

The Huberman Lab podcast is hosted by Dr. Andrew Huberman, a tenured Professor of Neurobiology and Ophthalmology at Stanford School of Medicine. Dr. Huberman is renowned for his groundbreaking research on brain development, brain function, and neural plasticity. His podcast bridges the gap between academic research and practical applications, making it a go-to resource for evidence-based biohacking strategies and augmenting human performance.

Understanding mitochondria: The powerhouses of our cells

Dr. Means: "We have 40 trillion cells and each cell might have a handful or many thousand mitochondria. They are the magical part of the cell that does that conversion process of food breaking down and then converting to energy, translating it to a currency of energy our body can recognize."

This explanation underscores why we at Timeline have focused so intently on mitochondrial health. These tiny organelles are responsible for producing the energy that fuels almost every process in our bodies, from basic cellular functions to complex cognitive tasks. Healthy mitochondrial function is critical for overall health and mitochondrial dysfunction one of the hallmarks of aging.

The three pillars of mitochondrial health

While discussing metabolic dysfunction and inefficiencies in cellular energy conversion, Dr. Casey discussed the three pillars for optimal metabolic capacity.

Huberman: “You've also alluded to the fact that most people are consuming enough, and probably excess amounts of caloric energy. So is it the lack of mitochondria or mitochondrial dysfunction that's at the root of the problem… What is it that would improve access to energy and energy utilization in cells? Is it simply a matter of getting the mitochondria to function better? Or is it that one can actually create more mitochondria?”

Dr. Means: “... so, to answer your question, what we really want to do to increase our metabolic capacity from a first principles perspective, is we need to make more mitochondria. We need to get each mitochondria to be more functional, and we need to have each more functional mitochondria, processing more energy substrates."

Dr. Means: "It means promoting mitophagy, the recycling of old mitochondria to new mitochondria. It means promoting mitochondrial biogenesis. It means increasing the oxidative capacity of our individual mitochondria. It means improving mitochondrial fusion which is actually when mitochondria come together to form long chains of mitochondria that are more efficient."

Key strategies for promoting mitochondrial health

Fortunately, there is a lot we can do to enhance mitochondrial health.

The impact of Urolithin A on mitochondria

While discussing methods to promote mitochondrial health, Dr. Means specifically mentions Urolithin A to promote mitophagy:

Dr. Means: "There's simple things we can do for each of those things. For mitophagy, we can focus on various types of endurance exercise and high-intensity interval exercise. There's compounds like Urolithin A that promote mitophagy."

This endorsement of Urolithin A as a tool for promoting mitophagy validates our focus on this compound. At Timeline Nutrition, we use Mitopure, a highly bioavailable form of Urolithin A, in both our Nutritional Supplements and Skincare Line. This allows us to support mitochondrial health both systemically and locally!

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The role of exercise in mitochondrial health

Dr. Means: "When we talk about improving our oxidative capacity, this is things like the sprint workouts. We want to build more mitochondria, this is resistance training, literally telling the body to make more… You look at the data on walking, and it's like, people who walk more than 7000 steps a day have a 50% to 65% lower chance of dying in ten-year follow-ups. And it's like, yeah, because walking is literally a glucose disposal signal."

Here Dr. Means discusses glucose disposal signals. These signals refer to the physiological process or trigger that prompts the body to use the carbohydrates and glucose we consume to fuel activity rather than storing them as fat. Practices like walking act as glucose disposal signals critical to metabolic processes and cellular energy production.

Supplementing with Mitopure® also has positive effects on muscle health.

Mitochondrial dysfunction and the trifecta of pathophysiology

Dr. Means: "The mitochondria trying so hard to do their work but they're not working properly so they create damaging metabolic byproducts called oxidative stress, free radicals that cause more damage… You've got this trifecta of interrelated physiology of mitochondrial dysfunction, chronic inflammation, oxidative stress.”

When our mitochondria aren't functioning optimally, it doesn't just affect our energy levels - it feeds into other aging processes.

“ …look at what's the pathophysiology of arthritis, what's the pathophysiology of Alzheimer's dementia? What's the pathophysiology of type two diabetes, obesity, fat or fatty liver disease, polycystic ovarian syndrome, erectile dysfunction. It all traces back to this trifecta…”Dr. Casey Means

Proactively supporting wellness, and optimizing cell function starts with understanding this trifecta. Promoting healthier mitochondria through mitophagy is a great way to reduce the prevalence of these big three age-accelerators.

Timeline’s commitment to mitochondrial health

Dr. Casey Means' discussion on the Huberman Lab podcast serves as a powerful validation of Timeline’s focus on mitochondrial health and high quality science. Her emphasis on the importance of the three pillars of mitochondrial function, and her specific mention of Urolithin A as a tool for promoting mitophagy, aligns perfectly with our approach.

At Timeline, we're committed to translating these scientific insights into practical, effective products that support mitochondrial health and enhance quality of life. Our Mitopure-based products, available in both dietary supplement and skincare, are designed to provide comprehensive support for mitochondrial function.

As we continue to advance our research, we remain dedicated to our core mission: empowering people to take control of their cellular health on their terms. With Mitopure, you're not just supporting your mitochondria - you're investing in your body's natural ability to thrive, at any age.